AB1520 A SURVEY ON OCULAR CICATRICIAL PEMPHIGOID. WHAT DO RHEUMATOLOGISTS AND OPHTHALMOLOGISTS THINK ABOUT IT?
Authors: A. Ringer, A. M. Smichowski, C. Siegrist, D. G. Grossi, S. Chulibert, B. Abdala, M. Abdala, J. Martinez, I. Gandino
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Mucous membrane pemphigoid is a systemic, chronic, scarring inflammatory disease of autoimmune aetiology. Isolated ocular involvement has classically been called ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP). Treatment is always systemic, which is why ophthalmologists seek the support of rheumatologists and guidance on autoimmunity. Given the lack of epidemiological data by region, the seriousness of this pathology, and the possible insufficient knowledge by medical professionals, it was proposed to carry out this work. <h3>Objectives</h3> To know the familiarity of rheumatologists and ophthalmologists with OCP and their interdisciplinary interaction in the region. <h3>Methods</h3> An online survey was conducted, which was accessed through a link to a Google form. This questionnaire was addressed mainly to rheumatologists and ophthalmologists belonging to similar scientific societies in America. The link was sent by email to the rheumatology societies. The questionnaire consisted of 13 questions. Questions were asked about age, sex, country, specialty, main place of work of the respondents (public or private institution, or private practice), whether or not they are familiar with the entity, how many patients they see annually, the specialties with which they work each surveyed to address these patients, diagnostic methodology (clinical vs. biopsy), the treatments used, and the difficulties in approaching these patients in daily practice. <h3>Results</h3> Four hundred sixty-three surveys were received and 433 were included, excluding duplications and those surveyed that did not belong to an American country. Most of the participants were from Argentina, followed by Colombia, Chile, and Mexico. Table 1 shows that, in general, doctors who work in private institutions are more aware of the disease, and rheumatologists are the primary specialty that ophthalmologists familiarized with OCP rely on their patients for multidisciplinary management. The most used treatments in the last year were: methotrexate (54.4%), azathioprine (26.8%), mycophenolate (17.4%) and rituximab (16.1%). The main difficulties reported in diagnosing and/or treating these patients were: the lack of information, knowledge, and/or transmission of the OCP in the different scientific activities and texts of the specialties involved in treating this entity; the difficulty in accessing and performing the biopsy of the ocular conjunctiva; and the difficulties in communication between specialists in order to carry out an appropriate follow-up. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Due to the high percentage of insufficient knowledge of this entity by rheumatologists (70%), and the great referral of these patients to rheumatology by ophthalmologists familiar with OCP (80%), it is imperative to work to expand its knowledge, transmission and joint work between both specialties, to improve and protocolize the approach to this entity, which can produce irreversible sequelae on the ocular surface. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> NIL. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.